Carter-Lee duo provides Cowboys' inside scoop at linebacker

Updated 8:06 pm, Saturday, September 8, 2012

Photo: Seth Wenig, Associated Press

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Dallas Cowboys linebacker Bruce Carter (54) tackles New York Giants tight end Martellus Bennett (85) during the first half of an NFL football game Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Bruce Carter (54) tackles New York Giants tight end Martellus Bennett (85) during the first half of an NFL football game Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Bruce Carter (54) tackles New York Giants tight end Martellus Bennett (85) during the first half of an NFL football game, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP

Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy stiff arms Dallas Cowboys inside linebacker Sean Lee in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011 in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy stiff arms Dallas Cowboys inside linebacker Sean Lee in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011 in Philadelphia.

Photo: AP

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Carter-Lee duo provides Cowboys' inside scoop at linebacker

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IRVING — Much has been made of the upgrades the Dallas Cowboys made to their secondary in the offseason.

But the addition of cornerbacks Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne isn't the only reason the Cowboys appear poised to improve on last season's middle-of-the-pack defensive ranking.

With aging plodders Keith Brooking and Bradie James sent packing, defensive coordinator Rob Ryan has turned to speedy second-year pro Bruce Carter to team with tenacious Sean Lee at inside linebacker. While not as publicized as the makeover of the secondary, the addition of Carter is a personnel boost owner Jerry Jones believes has changed the look of the entire unit.

“We are faster,” Jones said last week while discussing the team's 24-17 win over the New York Giants on his radio show. “There's no question when you look at No. 54, Carter, out there. He's the fastest inside linebacker in the NFL, maybe the fastest linebacker, period.

“With him and Sean Lee out there, it's a big difference ... I'm very pleased with what we've done to the interior of our pass defense.”

Dallas drafted Carter in the second round even though he suffered a major knee injury his senior year at North Carolina. Before the setback, scouts touted Carter as a first-rounder after he reportedly clocked a 4.39-second 40-yard dash.

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Limited to 10 games as a rookie because of the knee injury, Carter beat out free-agent pickup Dan Connor in training camp. He had five tackles against the Giants.

“You can see Bruce is somebody that can really run to the football,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. “He makes a lot of plays sideline to sideline. I also thought he covered well.”

While speaking on Dallas' KRLD-FM, Jones tossed a figurative game ball to Ryan. Dallas held New York to only 82 yards rushing and Eli Manning to 213 passing yards after he averaged 373 per game in sweeping the Cowboys last season.

“Hat's off to him,” Jones said, referring to Ryan. “He's had a year that was a come-to-Jesus year for him. He's really had to get in and look at what he can do better, look at what we can do better in the context of his philosophy. He's made adjustments. He's done the things good coaches do.”

One adjustment was to place a greater emphasis on tackling.

“We had a lot of different drills we used in training camp to get better at it,” Garrett said. “Again, the question always is, can you take that practice work to the field? For the most part, we were able to do that.

“All the best defenses I've seen are made up of a lot of really good tacklers. So we keep making that emphasis, and there are no number of missed tackles that are acceptable. You don't say, ‘Ah, we had three, that's OK.' Obviously, you want zero, in all phases of your team.”

Lee, who led the team in tackles last season, notched a team-high 12 on Wednesday night. His best came when he blasted running back Dave Wilson in the first quarter, forcing the first-round rookie to fumble the ball away.

“It was just an outstanding play when you watch his instincts and his feel and his ability to be so decisive attacking the run,” Garrett said. “He plays with such passion and enthusiasm. We use the word ‘relentless' around here a lot. He embodies that in everything he does, and it showed up on that play.”